Argument in Longmont parking lot leads to 'destroyed lives'

By Victoria A.F. Camron

Times-Call staff writer

Posted:
07/31/2014 06:10:45 PM MDT

Updated:
07/31/2014 06:12:09 PM MDT

Riddell (File photo / Longmont Times-Call)

Shannon Dominguez was sitting in her boyfriend's car, in front of a store on the 2200 block of Main Street on June 7 when a woman parked her vehicle, locked it up and entered the store — leaving her child inside the car.

Although the high temperature that day was just 68 degrees, a concerned Dominguez called 911. While she was on the phone, the other woman, Kristina Riddell, returned to her car. To the 911 call-taker, Dominguez said, "Never mind, the mother of the year is here."

The ensuing confrontation escalated into an assault that might have left Dominguez permanently disabled. According to police reports, Riddell is accused of hitting and running over Dominguez with her vehicle while leaving the scene of the confrontation.

"My life is now sitting at the end of the couch," Dominguez said Thursday.

Dominguez suffered three breaks in her fibula and a spiral break in her tibia, she said. The injuries led to compartment syndrome, an increased pressure on the muscles, blood vessels and nerves that can cause permanent damage. She developed pneumonia, received blood transfusions and underwent two surgeries so far.

At Longmont United Hospital, she spent nine days in the intensive-care unit and four days in a regular room, she said.

"It could take up to six months for the bones to heal," Dominguez said. But even in the best-case scenario, she'll need to walk with a cane for the rest of her life.

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Dominguez' boyfriend, Alan Mason, took seven weeks off of work to help her and now works part-time. Her 15-year-old daughter is spending the summer taking care of her. A home health-care nurse helps her shower and dress, and a physical therapist exercises her ankle.

Dominguez can't use a walker yet, because her knee buckles when she walks.

"I can't even try to describe how bad the pain is," Dominguez said.

A stay-at-home mom, Dominguez was planning to look for a job now that her daughter is in high school, she said. Now, she's applied for disability.

"She said she was going to kick my 'old hag ass,'" said Dominguez, 43. Riddell turned 27 the previous day.

Mason, 44, stepped between the two women, but Riddell punched him and jumped back in her car, Dominguez said. The arrest report said Riddell slapped Mason, knocking off his hat and sunglasses.

"She reversed it so quickly that she was burning rubber," said Dominguez, who was standing with Mason at the end of a parking space. After backing up, Riddell drove forward and "accelerated quickly, driving at Alan and Shannon," Officer David Bonday wrote in the arrest report.

Riddell's car hit Mason, knocking him onto the hood, and hit and ran over Dominguez. Riddell then left the parking lot, according to Bonday's report.

According to that report, Riddell said Mason jumped on the hood of her car, and that Dominguez was banging on the hood. She then took her foot off the brake, but did not accelerate until she passed the couple, she told police.

Shannon Dominguez, 43, and her boyfriend Alan Mason, 44, were struck by a car in a north Longmont shopping center parking lot in June. Dominguez said they were hit on purpose after Dominguez accused Kristina Riddell of leaving a child locked in a car while Riddell was shopping. Dominguez was critically injured, suffering a serious leg injury. Photo taken at Dominguez's Longmont home Thursday. To view a video, visit www.timescall.com. (Lewis Geyer / TIMES-CALL)